Support Voiced For Downtown Improvement Area

Support among businessmen for a proposed Downtown Improvement District ran about 40-1 in favor last night at an Allentown City Council committee-of-the -whole meeting.

Council voted unanimously to recommend passage of an ordinance to create a nine-member authority to manage the district and assess its property owners to expand security, maintenance, promotional and leasing services.

A public hearing will be conducted on the plan at 7 p.m. March 19, a half hour before council's regular meeting when it will act on the ordinance.

Mayor Joseph S. Daddona issued a statement that said: "This intense level of services will provide the much-needed impetus to produce a healthier and more economically vital downtown Allentown."

George F. Southworth, president of the Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce, said one of the keys to the success of suburban shopping malls is a "one management concept" working for the benefit of all of their stores.

"We will be remiss if we don't go in this direction and pull together for the common good of downtown Allentown," he said.

Other speakers favoring the district voiced similar sentiments.

Leonard Shoemaker, operator of Jean's Yarn Shop on the Hamilton Mall, was the only person taking the negative side.

He conceded something has to be done to revitalize the downtown, but he has questions about the city's and the authority's responsibilities after the district is established.

For example, he asked who would assume the insurance coverage for employees hired, for the public sidewalks and for the police officers hired on a part-time basis. He asked what can be done about the street people on the mall, "who don't paint too pretty a picture."

Furthermore, he said, "I'd like to know where you are going to get five policemen to work for $10 an hour."

Shoemaker contended that for the amount to be invested in patrols, the city could hire 10 more officers to patrol the entire city, not just the downtown.

Councilman Benjamin F. Howells said the city would retain liability on public property and the owners of private property would be responsible for their coverage.

He said about $250,000 would be allocated for "security," which would involve other things besides police.

"Security and street people are way down on the list of problems," Howells said. "There is nothing unsafe about the mall. There are policemen assigned there to maintain order."

Community Development Director Donald M. Bernhard said members of the Fraternal Order of Police have informed him that during off-duty hours they are willing to patrol the downtown for $10 an hour.

Shoemaker complained about the city's contracting for a study on replacing the brick tiles on the mall.

Bernhard said: "I'd challenge anyone to make a $1 million investment without some sort of an engineering plan. Otherwise, we would put in something that would not last."

Attorney Harold Nabhan said the proposed improvement district will be the "cream on top of the cake" in the efforts to improve the downtown.

"People like myself are willing to take a chance and put in a little money and get a whole lot more back in return," he said. "Everyone I have talked to is enthused and ready to go."

John Leh II, a partner in H. Leh & Co., said: "I never thought I would see the day when I would volunteer to pay more taxes. . . . I'm willing to do my share in making the downtown a better place to do business. If it doesn't work, we can bag it in three years."

Southworth said the Allentown Center City Association (ACCA) has had some success in pulling the downtown together, but its effectiveness was limited because merchants do not have to join.

He said the creation of the Hamilton Mall was the first phase in the move to revitalize business in the downtown. He said the proposed district is the second phase.

Under the plan, property owners in the district who don't pay their assessment would face a lien being placed on the property.

William Leh, ACCA president, read a statement of endorsement of the improvement district from his board of directors.

He said ACCA "would like nothing better than to be replaced by an effective management structure." But he added that ACCA would not disband as a corporate entity. He noted that the improvement district could be dissolved after three years and it would be important to have ACCA intact.

Daddona's prepared remarks were read his administrative assistant Karl Kercher. The mayor had a previous commitment to attend another meeting.

"I'm very enthusiastic about the prospect of the formation of a downtown improvement district in our central business district," Daddona said. "This public/private partnership will provide in excess of S1 million a year for three years specifically for services directly benefiting our central business district.